Groucho Marx may not be very familiar to anyone under the age of 50, and yet, the cigar-smoking, grease-mustached, stooped-walking, bespectacled middle child of the famous Marx Brothers will forever be a part of American culture. Those funny black glasses with the big nose and mustache attached? That's Groucho. That song about Lydia the tattooed lady? Groucho made that famous. Groucho, along with Charlie Chaplin, W.C Fields, Mae West, Buster Keaton, and Jimmy Durante, made the jump from Vaudeville to film in the 1920's, inspiring generations of actors and comedians along the way. While Groucho has been gone since 1977, today's audience can still get a perfect sense of his wit and talent thanks to Frank Ferrante, who's bringing this comic genius to The Rep's Stackner Cabaret stage in An Evening With Groucho.

The production is written, directed, and performed by Ferrante, who is accompanied by pianist, Gerald Sternbach, one of L.A.'s foremost Musical Directors. Ferrante enters the stage as himself but, with the help of a bit of grease paint and some glasses, transforms himself into Groucho before the audience's eyes. Part storytelling, part musical, and pure comedic genius, Ferrante uses his own sharp wit, inspired by Groucho, and the people in the audience to move the performance along, making each show unique. The intimacy of the Stackner is the perfect venue for this production, and Ferrante certainly does his best to get to know the audience...intimately.

Ferrante, who was shy as a child, discovered Groucho on the T.V. quiz show, You Bet Your Life. In 1985, as a Drama Student at the University of Southern California, Ferrante invited Groucho's son, Arthur, to his senior project performance, based on Groucho. According to Ferrante, "It was serendipity." Just a year later, he starred in Arthur's play, Groucho: A Life in Revue, and he has played Groucho ever since, from New York to London, and even for a PBS special. Although he never met Groucho, himself, Ferrante is close with his family members, and has had the opportunity to meet and speak with many who were close with the famous comedian.

Groucho, along with his brothers, Chico, Harpo, Gummo, and Zeppo, star in five of the American Film Institute's 100 Funniest Movies: Duck Soup (1933), A Night at the Opera (1935), A Day at the Races (1937), Horse Feathers (1932), and Monkey Business (1931). In 1949, the brothers split up, and Groucho went on to perform solo on both radio and television. Vaudeville performers like the Marx Brothers inspired our modern day variety television shows, such as the Ed Sullivan Show and the Tonight Show. In fact, Groucho Marx was the very first guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1962.

Getting to know Groucho is an essential part of understanding American culture, and Frank Ferrante brings this icon to life, right on the stage, the way he was meant to be experienced. As Ferrante says, "Tell 'em Groucho sent ya!"

An Evening With Groucho runs through May 28th at The Rep's Stackner Cabaret (108 E. Wells St. in Milwaukee). Tickets can be purchased online at www.milwaukeerep.com, by calling (414) 224-9490, or in person at the Ticket Office. An Evening With Groucho is sponsored by David and Camille Kundert. The Rep is sponsored in part by the United Performing Arts Fund.

About Milwaukee Repertory TheaterMilwaukee Rep is a nationally-recognized company that presents compelling dramas, powerful classics, award-winning contemporary works and full-scale musicals housed in its three unique performance venues – the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio, and Stackner Cabaret. The Rep also produces an annual production of A Christmas Carol,featuring a World Premiere new adaptation in 2016, at the historic Pabst Theater. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Managing Director Chad Bauman,Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity.​​

The Beast, Azor, in Skylight Music Theatre's production of "Beauty and the Beast (Zémire et Azor)", March 17-26th at the Cabot Theatre in Milwaukee

Gillian Hollis as Zémire in Skylight Music Theatre's production of "Beauty and the Beast (Zémire et Azor)"

By Mary Boyle

The classic story of Beauty and the Beast is all the rage right now, thanks to Emma Watson taking a turn as Belle in Disney's new live action version of their 1991 animated hit; however, long ago, before Disney got a hold of it, the story was a French fairy tale called La Belle et la Bête, which made its first appearance in print in the 18th Century, and inspired an opera by the name ofZémire et Azor, which is making a timely appearance at Skylight Music Theatre through March 26th.

Written by Jean-François Marmontel, with music by André Ernest Modeste Grétry, this opera from 1771 has remained a favorite for audiences of all ages, and Director James Ortiz has added a very special twist to this production.

“We have created a true spectacle, a visual feast, featuring giant-size puppetry to tell this fairy tale,” said Ortiz. “At its core, Beauty and the Beast is a rollicking evening of great music, magic and heart, with moments of real poignancy and tenderness. We have infused our production with vivid sets, elaborate costumes, compelling dance, and enormous puppets to transport the audience to another world where the power of love can break a curse.”

To make the opera even more accessible to today's audiences, Skylight's music director, Shari Rhoads, and director/designer, Ortiz, have done their own translation of the original French into English, except for Zémire’s famous aria, Air de la Fauvette, which remains in its original language.

Zémire (Gillian Hollis) is the youngest daughter of a wealthy, widowed merchant named Sander (Eric McKeever). While her older sisters, Fatme (Erin Sura) and Lisbe (Sarah Thompson Johansen), demand gifts from their father whenever he returns home, Zémire asks for nothing; when her father insists, she asks only for a rose. Sander and his servant, Ali (Nicholas Nestorak), lose their ship at sea and are driven to a seemingly abandoned castle to seek shelter from the storm. When Sander picks a rose for his youngest daughter, he is confronted by Azor (Chaz'men Williams-Ali), the beast, who demands that Sander give his youngest daughter to pay for his thievery, but that she must come willingly. Sander returns to his daughters empty-handed, except for the rose for Zémire, intending only to bid farewell to his daughters, and then to sacrifice himself to the beast, but Zémire learns of Azor's demand, and she forces Ali to bring her to the castle.

This particular production is an excellent example of Skylight Style: "bringing fresh approaches or interesting twists to music theatre works; creating meaningful connections, not only between the characters on stage, but with the audience, as well." The massive form of Azor is an impressive, and endearing, piece of puppetry, while Gillian Hollis, as Zemire, looks as if she stepped right out of a Renaissance painting. Nicholas Nestorak, as Ali, gets all of the laughs, while the sisters get all the animosity. The beautiful Cabot Theatre enhances the elaborate set design and costumes, and the voices of the performers and music of the live orchestra are pure magic. Drama, romance, comedy -- audiences will find it all in Skylight's Beauty and the Beast.

Since the beginning, Skylight Music Theatre has established a reputation for broad and adventuresome repertoire, encompassing baroque opera, European operetta, Gilbert and Sullivan, Broadway musicals, contemporary chamber operas, and original musical revues. This tantalizing mix of repertoire fulfills the mission of the Skylight, which is to bring the full spectrum of musical theatre works to a wide and diverse audience in celebration of the musical and theatrical arts and their reflection of the human condition.

When you think back to the books you were required to read in high school, it's likely that you read the play The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams; it's equally likely that you didn't get much, if anything, from reading it, because this play requires more empathy than your average high school student can muster. Many a grown-up can recall that painful classroom reading of Romeo and Juliet in their freshman year that ruined Shakespeare for all time (plays, you see, are meant to be seen, not read). Luckily, now is your chance to experience this theater classic the way it was meant to be, with The Milwaukee Repertory Theater's production of The Glass Menagerie.

The play, which brought Williams into the limelight, premiered in Chicago in 1944, but quickly made its way to Broadway, where it won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1945. Largely autobiographical, the story is set in the same tenement building in St. Louis during the Great Depression that Williams, himself, began to write in, while the characters are modeled after Williams and his family; particularly his older sister, Rose, who suffered from schizophrenia and was institutionalized after a botched lobotomy during a period of time when Williams was away from St. Louis. Williams went on to be a prolific playwright, winning Pulitzer prizes for his plays, A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and made sure that Rose was well cared for throughout her life.

In this "memory play," Williams character is Tom Wingfield (played by Ryan Imhoff), a young man struggling with the weight of putting aside his own dreams in order to support his mother, Amanda (Hollis Resnik), and his sister, Laura (Kelsey Brennan), after their father left them. A faded Southern Belle, Amanda escapes her bitter reality by living in her storied past, while simultaneously fretting over the future, and what will become of her and her children. Laura's life has been shaped by her disability: a leg crippled by a childhood illness that has left her with a noticeable limp; more crippling, though, is her social anxiety, which has left her unable to attend the typing classes her mother had hoped would gain her employment and, therefore, financial security. Laura wants nothing more than to be left alone with her glass menagerie, but the logical option to secure Laura's future would, of course, be a husband, so Tom is charged with finding a "Gentleman Caller" (Brandon Dahlquist) to save the day.

Directed by Mark Clements, The Rep's Menagerie has an excellent cast and a brilliant set thatstays true to Williams' vision: seemingly stark, direct, and simple. The narrator takes the guesswork out; the metaphors are obvious. On the surface, it appears to be mainly a story of desperation and regret, but what makes it timeless and intriguing is its relationship to each individual in the audience; the way a person identifies with the characters in the play that changes with age, life experiences, and the passage of time, so that although the play remains the same, it is different each time you see it. Though some of the social conditions that contribute to the characters' troubles in this play no longer exist, the play remains as compelling as ever. Perhaps, those thousands of high school English teachers are on to something.

The Glass Menagerie runs through April 9th at the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, located at 108 E. Wells St. in Milwaukee. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490, online at https://www.milwaukeerep.com, or in person at the Ticket Office, Monday – Sunday from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. The Ticket Office will also be open on performance days from noon until 15 minutes after curtain.

About Milwaukee Repertory TheaterMilwaukee Rep is a nationally-recognized company that presents compelling dramas, powerful classics, award-winning contemporary works and full-scale musicals housed in its three unique performance venues – the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio, and Stackner Cabaret. The Rep also produces an annual production of A Christmas Carol,featuring a World Premiere new adaptation in 2016, at the historic Pabst Theater. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Managing Director Chad Bauman,Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity.​

First Stage Young Company performers in the World Premier of "TXT U L8R." Paul Ruffolo Photography

"TXT U L8R" with the First Stage Young Company. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.

By Mary Boyle

Texting is the main form of communication for high school students, these days, and the inherent loss of nuance, tone, and body language that informs a face-to-face conversation has caused plenty of problems previous generations couldn't possibly imagine. In the World Premiere play, "TXT U L8R," performed by the First Stage Young Company, a group of students are getting strange texts from people they don't know that create all kinds of chaos, but is it a clever prank, or is there something more to their digital companions than meets the eye?

Playwright, Eric Coble, has done several adaptations for the stage, including Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars, which made its world premier at First Stage in their 2014/15 season. "TXT U L8R," however, is an original that Coble wrote specifically for Young Company to perform at the 2016 New Visions/New Voices conference in Washington D.C. last May. The week-long conference, hosted by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, inspires new plays and musicals geared towards young audiences and families.

Directed by Milwaukee favorite, Matt Daniels, who also happens to be the Associate Director of the Young Company, "TXT U L8R" is Clue meets The Breakfast Club, with a little bit of Horton Hears a Who, for good measure; in other words, kids ages 12 and up are going to love this fast-paced, funny, mystery that manages to shed some light on the people we see, but don't really see, every day.

Tickets for TXT U L8R are selling fast! The remaining performances are on Saturday, March 18th, at 3:30 and 7 p.m. at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, located at 325 W. Walnut St. in Milwaukee. Tickets are $14, and can be purchased by calling (414) 267-2961, or online at http://www.firststage.org/.

About First StageCelebrating its 30th anniversary in the 2016-2017 season, First Stage is one of the nation’s leading theaters for young audiences and families. First Stage touches hearts, engages minds, and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences for young people and families through professional theater productions that inspire, enlighten, and entertain. Its Theater Academy, the nation’s largest high-impact theater training program for young people, fosters life skills through stage skills and serves over 2,100 students each year. As Wisconsin’s leader in arts-integrated education in schools, First Stage’s dynamic Theater in Education programs use theater to promote active learning throughout the curriculum, serving over 20,000 students throughout southeastern Wisconsin each year. In 2012, First Stage was selected to participate in the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. First Stage is the recipient of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Eureka Award in 2013 and 2015, recognizing creativity and innovation in business, education, and the arts. First Stage is a member of TYA/USA, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, Theatre Wisconsin, and Milwaukee Arts Partners, and is a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF).

To say that Mequon resident Steve Shapson is a fan of mushrooms is an understatement: he loves them so much that he is the President of the Wisconsin Mycological Society, a group that provides education in identification of edible and poisonous mushrooms, and an outlet for fungal-focused hobbies, including cooking and preservation, home cultivation, artistic endeavors, and more.

Dan Wiken, Executive Chef and Owner at the Twisted Willow restaurant in Port Washington, is also a fan of fungus, and has bartered mushrooms with Shapson on several occasions. This mutual appreciation led to their collaboration on the 5 Course Mushroom Dinner, held at the Twisted Willow on March 5th, which served to illustrate the versatility of this forage-able food, as well as the ability for Ozaukee's favorite farm-to-table restaurant to show what could be done with them. ​

Over 60 people attended the dinner, where nearly everything -- from the drinks to the dessert -- was graced with mushrooms, beginning with a Sweet Potato Waffle. This take on a Southern dish utilized fried oyster mushrooms, instead of chicken. A bourbon sorghum syrup and roasted hazelnuts tied the dish together beautifully.

Each course was paired with a drink, created by Twisted Willow Bar Manager, Joe Buth, beginning with a Porcini Manhattan. This was an adventurous concoction for a true mushroom lover, but it did pair well with the dish.

The Shaved Mushroom Salad was my favorite of the evening, not only for the beautiful presentation, but for the amazing combination of flavors. A variety of exotic mushrooms, including crimini, lion's mane, king trumpet, and enoki, were utilized in this dish, which was served over a smear of honey mascarpone. This was paired with a Mushroom Flip; a fizzy, sweet beverage with a delicious head of foam.

Paired with an interesting Portabella Shrub, the third course was Seared Scallop over a forest mushroom whole wheat couscous, and oyster, crimini, and shiitake mushroom raisin goulash with baby greens, which was simply delicious.

The main course featured Porcini-Crusted Veal Loin with kabocha squash and shiitake mushroom ravioli and broccolini. The Rioja Bordón" Gran Reserva 2005 paired with this dish was also used in the demi glace on the veal, which made a lovely combination.

​Yes, even the dessert featured mushrooms: in this case, a Maitake & Nameko Forest Mushroom Bread Pudding served with vanilla bean ice cream and saffron milk cap salted caramel, which was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and just the right amount of sweetness. This was paired with a Wild Mushroom Cortado; a warm espresso and milk beverage that went quite well with the dessert.

Twisted Willow's Joe Buth, with Steve Shapson, President of the Wisconsin Mycological Society

Near the end of the evening, Shapson presented Chef Wiken, Buth, and Chef James Flatley with a Lifetime Membership to the Wisconsin Mycological Society. "The folks at Twister Willow are so nice," Shapson said, "and we wanted to support them by starting the mushroom dinner."

With any luck, this will become one of Twisted Willow's annual dinners, as it exemplifies their ability to showcase local ingredients, as well as their mastery of flavor combinations. In the meantime, learn how to forage for, and even grow your own, mushrooms, as well as how to identify the poisonous ones, by attending one of the many lectures, workshops and forays hosted by the WMS. Learn more at their website: http://www.wisconsinmycologicalsociety.org/​

Port Washington and Mequon are two of five principle cities involved in supporting a Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary

The Northerner is one of many shipwrecks that will be protected in the proposed Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary. Photo by Tamara Thomsen for the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Map of the NOAA's preferred boundary for the Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary

By Mary Boyle

Over a year ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced their plans to create a new Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary in Wisconsin, in order to conserve shipwrecks and other maritime heritage resources along the shores of Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Manitowoc Counties. The proposed sanctuary will cover 1,075 miles and protect 37 known shipwrecks with significant historic, archaeological, and recreational significance, as well as a potential 80 more that have yet to be discovered.

A report published in January measuring the economic and environmental impact of the sanctuary showed a positive impact on the counties bordering the sanctuary; however, that does not mean that the proposal will be approved, and the public still has their opportunity to comment, which citizens of the affected communities are being encouraged to do -- particularly in regard to where the headquarters for the Lake Michigan sanctuary might be located: Port Washington, Mequon, Manitowoc, Two Rivers, or Sheboygan.

Russ Green, the Regional Coordinator for the NOAA, insists that the process isn't competitive among communities: "It's been very collaborative, from Two Rivers to Mequon; it's very regional, so the sanctuary will benefit all of the communities."

A national marine sanctuary essentially creates an underwater museum or park, which will not only protect and conserve shipwrecks, which are an important part of our state and national maritime history, but will also allow public access. Mooring buoys would be installed over shipwrecks and other areas of significance, allowing divers to find and explore the sites far more easily, while alerting other water traffic to its existence. Furthermore, the research involved in creating the sanctuary, such as lake bottom mapping to search out more shipwrecks, will serve both historical and biological purposes, as the findings will also be used to examine the health of the Lake.

A public meeting will be held in Port Washington on Thursday, March 16th, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Lakeview Community Room (formerly the Wilson House), located at 206 N. Franklin St. Citizens will be given the opportunity to look at the proposal, which offers two different options for the borders of the sanctuary, and to ask questions about how the sanctuary will affect them.

One of the highlights of the Gourmet Gala is a Wine & Whiskey Pull, in which every participant goes home with a bottle.

By Mary Boyle

Ozaukee County is constantly rated as one of the wealthiest and healthiest places to live, and this designation is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it gives residents pride in their community; on the other, it may make one believe that nobody struggles here, and that is far from the truth. That is why the Family Enrichment Center is so important to our community.

Located in Grafton, the FEC is an amazing collaboration between multiple non-profits housed under one roof. This unique arrangement helps organizations such as COPE, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ozaukee, Energy Services, Ozaukee Family Services, Interfaith Caregivers of Ozaukee, and the Alzheimer's Association share resources, which enables them to afford more services for families all over the community.

Since 2014, the FEC has hosted the Gourmet Gala: a wonderful fundraiser that not only allows the community to learn more about the services the FEC provides, but also gives them the opportunity to try food and beverages from several local restaurants and win fabulous raffle and auction prizes, all while supporting the FEC non-profits.

For the first three years, the Gala was held at the FEC, but had grown so popular, that more space was needed for the event. This year was the Gala's first time at the Ozaukee Pavilion, where there was plenty of room for everyone to spread out.

Upon arrival, guests were encouraged to grab a beverage and view the many raffle baskets, participate in the Wine & Whiskey Pull, or get their photos taken on the "red carpet."

One of the benefits of the Ozaukee Pavilion was the ability for sit-down dining. Guests simply dropped their drinks off at one of the many beautifully set tables, and then proceeded to the corners of the room, where four different restaurants were busy making small plates of appetizers, entrees, and desserts.

​Appetizers were covered by The Cheel, who served a delightful Burmese dish called Tohu Thoke (a cold chickpea salad, tossed with garlic, onion, ginger, cilantro, and peanuts) and Twisted Willow, who contributed a delicious Roasted Beet Salad with goat cheese and candied walnuts.

​All four restaurants served an entree on small plates. From Scratch Catering made an amazing Pork Tenderloin with a Cherry Cashew Wild Rice, while Yellowbellies offered up a dainty version of one of their most popular sandwiches, the O.G. (flatbread topped with bacon aioli, organic mixed greens, Bernie's bacon, Cedar Valley 2 year cheddar, pulled rotisserie chicken, and roasted tomato). Twisted Willow served Marinated Flank Steak with Cauliflower Puree, Chimichurri, and Micro Greens, and The Cheel did Sandheko Sukuti, which was crispy Nepalese spiced pork served with crispy flattened rice. Vegetarian options were also offered at the stations, upon request.

For dessert, Yellowbellies served two different mini-cheesecakes, and From Scratch offered a spice cake with caramel sauce and whipped cream. ​

Chef Barkha Limbu Daily of The Cheel

Tom Wachs of Fox 6 News was the Emcee for the event, introducing two videos about the FEC, and moving the evening along. The live auction was a particularly fun part of the evening, featuring two items: the Baird Suite at Miller Park for 20 Guests, and "The Cheel in your Ville," in which Executive Chef and Owner of The Cheel, Chef Barkha Limbu Daily and her husband, Jesse, offer a hands-on, in-home culinary experience for 10. Bidding for both items was fast and competitive, but when Chef Barkha, who returned for her third year at the Gala, manned the mic, she managed to drive up the bidding for her item even further than the Miller Park package.

"[The FEC] core values are very near and dear to my heart," Chef Barkha said in a recent FEC video. "They believe in fostering and enriching connections, community growth, and the well-being of the community -- that was one of the big reason I started my own restaurant. This is why I'm coming back."

Aside from being a wonderful evening, the Gourmet Gala truly highlighted the love, support, and appreciation for the Family Enrichment Center and all that they do for Ozaukee County. This is absolutely an event you'll want to mark on your calendar for 2018!

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Why We're Here, by the Avett Bros.:

﻿And they will pay us all in fame, though that is not why we came, and if it compromises truth, then we will go. We came for salvation. We came for family. We came for all that's good, that's how we'll walk away. We came to break the path; we came to cheer the sad; we came to leave behind the world a better way.

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